Oboronservis case defendant sentenced to 3.5 years custody

MOSCOW, June 10 (Itar-Tass) - Moscow's Preobrazhensky court on Monday sentenced retired Colonel Boris Miroshnikov to 3.5 years in prison, finding him guilty of attempted 12-million-fraud in sales of property belonging to the Defense Ministry through the Oboronservis company, and abetting former director of the Expert legal support center Yekaterina Smetanova, a suspect in a high-profile property theft case.

Miroshnikov pleaded guilty and testified against Smetanova. His case was reviewed under special procedure that envisions softer punishment.

The court said his correction was not possible without isolation from the society. Miroshnikov was fined 300,000 roubles. The verdict took into account mitigating circumstances, such as the defendant's cooperation with the investigator, his underage children and the services during fighting in Chechnya.

The court said one year Miroshnikov had spent under house arrest would be deducted from the prison term.

Miroshnikov did not make any comments after the verdict was read. His lawyer could not immediately say if he would appeal.

Criminal proceedings against Smetanova were opened under Article 204, Part 3 /commercial bribery/. Her case is investigated together with the case against several officials of the Defense Ministry’s property department and executives of Oboronservis, its affiliates, and third-party organizations.

Later on Tuesday, the Preobrazhensky court is expected to review a criminal case against Alexander Ambarov, another suspected accomplice of Smetanova.